Once in a Lifetime

Though Lahiri makes use of the first person, the narrator addresses another character in the second throughout the story. This creates a certain amount of familiarity or intimacy with both the narrator and her childhood companion, counteracting the fact that her friend has little dialogue and performs few actions within the story.

Lahiri does not follow a traditional plot structure. There is no climactic argument between Hema’s passively resentful parents and their breezily modern guests. However, much of the tension arises from misunderstanding between the two pairs. For the most part, this tension is never resolved. Hema’s parents never discover the truth, and the other source of conflict within the story, Hema’s attitude toward her childhood friend, does not ever provide any closure. All of this gives the piece a vague, anxious feel, which mirrors the atmosphere of Hema’s home.

Neither Hema nor Kaushik possess particularly noticeable personalities. Hema’s voice is dispassionate and somewhat melancholic, while Kaushik’s character is barely represented at all. However, the personalities of their parents are clear; Hema’s mother is conservative, fretful, and a little judgmental, while Kaushik’s parents are indulgent and active. Lahiri disregards the idea that protagonists should be active—Hema merely observes the consequences of other people’s decisions.